Best institutions to study Plant Sciences
A general program that focuses on the scientific principles that underlie the breeding, cultivation, and production of agricultural plants, and the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural plant products.
43 U.S. institutions graduated 753 Plant Sciences students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.1101, a specialization of Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11), and leads most directly to the Soil and Plant Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-1013).
About Plant Sciences programs
A general program that focuses on the scientific principles that underlie the breeding, cultivation, and production of agricultural plants, and the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural plant products. Includes instruction in the plant sciences, crop cultivation and production, and agricultural and food products processing.
See also: 26.0308 - Plant Molecular Biology., 26.0307 - Plant Physiology., 26.0301 - Botany/Plant Biology., 26.0305 - Plant Pathology/Phytopathology.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Plant Sciences program offers a comprehensive education in the scientific principles of breeding, cultivating, and producing agricultural plants. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural plant products, making it ideal for those who are passionate about agriculture and sustainability.
Students in the Plant Sciences program will gain core skills in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, alongside hands-on experience in crop cultivation and agricultural practices. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication, preparing graduates for various roles in the field.
Credentials awarded
What Plant Sciences graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree511 graduates / yr · 25 institutions68%
- Master's degree108 graduates / yr · 18 institutions14%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship74 graduates / yr · 17 institutions9.8%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year34 graduates / yr · 5 institutions4.5%
- Award of less than 12 weeks18 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.4%
- Associate's degree8 graduates / yr · 3 institutions1.1%
Graduates over time
Plant Sciences completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 421 |
| 2013 | 560 |
| 2014 | 604 |
| 2015 | 576 |
| 2016 | 605 |
| 2017 | 603 |
| 2018 | 680 |
| 2019 | 736 |
| 2020 | 694 |
| 2021 | 662 |
| 2022 | 672 |
| 2023 | 664 |
| 2024 | 682 |
| 2025 | 753 |
Top 43 institutions for Plant Sciences, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 61 | 74% | — | $40,355 |
| 2 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 59 | 85% | — | $35,216 |
| 3 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 52 | 75% | — | $46,627 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 50 | 86% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 48 | 91% | — | $36,372 |
| 6 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 47 | 95% | $17,613 | $32,236 |
| 7 | Montana State University Bozeman, MTPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 46 | 57% | — | $33,311 |
| 8 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 33 | 86% | — | $43,873 |
| 9 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor's | 31 | 88% | — | $42,712 |
| 10 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor's | 28 | 86% | — | $42,861 |
| 11 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor's | 23 | 84% | — | $36,362 |
| 12 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 23 | 87% | — | $46,395 |
| 13 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LAPublicBachelor's | 22 | 69% | — | — |
| 14 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 21 | 81% | — | $39,362 |
| 15 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 20 | 83% | — | $37,170 |
| 16 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill, NYPublicBachelor's | 20 | 42% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 17 | 89% | — | — |
| 18 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 16 | 52% | — | — |
| 19 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, ARPublicBachelor's | 15 | 55% | — | $49,536 |
| 20 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 13 | 68% | — | — |
| 21 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublicBachelor's | 13 | 54% | — | $37,716 |
| 22 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor's | 12 | 75% | — | — |
| 23 | University of Minnesota - Crookston Crookston, MNPublicBachelor's | 9 | 50% | — | $57,915 |
| 24 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 59% | — | $36,062 |
| 25 | Columbia - Greene Community College Hudson, NYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 46% | — | — |
| 26 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicMaster's | 6 | 58% | — | $36,173 |
| 27 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, ARPublicDoctoral | 5 | 71% | — | — |
| 28 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 57% | — | $44,559 |
| 29 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MOPublicBachelor's | 5 | 58% | — | $48,546 |
| 30 | Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 31% | — | — |
| 31 | Northern Wyoming Community College District Sheridan, WYPublicAssociate's | 5 | 42% | — | — |
| 32 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublicMaster's | 4 | 62% | — | — |
| 33 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 3 | 83% | — | — |
| 34 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 70% | $24,569 | — |
| 35 | University of Maine Orono, MEPublicMaster's | 3 | 55% | — | — |
| 36 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 70% | — | $38,397 |
| 37 | University of Vermont Burlington, VTPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 79% | — | $33,221 |
| 38 | University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville Batesville, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 66% | — | — |
| 39 | Mercer County Community College West Windsor, NJPublicAssociate's | 2 | 25% | — | — |
| 40 | University of Mount Olive Mount Olive, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 52% | $16,473 | — |
| 41 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Schuylkill Schuylkill Haven, PAPublicBachelor's | 1 | 32% | — | — |
| 42 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicDoctoral | 1 | 65% | — | $37,454 |
| 43 | Sussex County Community College Newton, NJPublicAssociate's | 1 | 37% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Plant Sciences field (CIP 01.11) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 28 states
Where Plant Sciences graduates come from. Each state links to all Plant Sciences programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-1013, Soil and Plant Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Plant Sciences program can pursue careers as Soil and Plant Scientists, with an average growth rate of 5.4% and about 1,700 annual job openings. The median wage for this occupation is $71,410, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.1101
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Soil and Plant Scientistsprimary SOC 19-1013 | $78,850 | +5.4% Faster than average | ~1,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers SOC 11-9013 | $89,900 | -1.3% Decline | ~85,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers SOC 45-1011 | $59,320 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Agricultural Technicians SOC 19-4012 | $49,630 | +4.3% About as fast as average | ~2,900 | Associate's degree |
Farm and Home Management Educators SOC 25-9021 | $60,220 | -2.5% Decline | ~1,100 | Master's degree |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1041 | $98,700 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Plant Sciences programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
- Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.
- Provide information or recommendations to farmers or other landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion.
- Conduct experiments to develop new or improved varieties of field crops, focusing on characteristics such as yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or adaptation to specific soils or climates.
- Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.
- Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
Tools and technology used
Other Plant Sciences specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11).
- Agronomy and Crop ScienceCIP 01.11021,367 graduates / yr65 institutions
- Horticultural ScienceCIP 01.1103875 graduates / yr49 institutions
- Plant Protection and Integrated Pest ManagementCIP 01.1105196 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Range Science and ManagementCIP 01.1106137 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Plant SciencesCIP 01.1199partial data104 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Agricultural and Horticultural Plant BreedingCIP 01.1104partial data42 graduates / yr6 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Plant Sciences?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Plant Sciences.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You'll develop skills in science, critical thinking, communication, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Plant Sciences?+
You can work as a Soil and Plant Scientist, Agricultural Technician, or Farm Manager, among others.
What is the job outlook for Plant Sciences graduates?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with an annual growth rate of 5.4%.
What is the CIP code for Plant Sciences?+
Plant Sciences is CIP 01.1101 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Plant Sciences (CIP 01.11). NCES defines it as: A general program that focuses on the scientific principles that underlie the breeding, cultivation, and production of agricultural plants, and the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural plant products. Includes instruction in the plant sciences, crop cultivation and production, and agricultural and food products processing.
How many institutions offer Plant Sciences programs?+
43 U.S. institutions reported Plant Sciences graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 28 states, awarding 753 credentials in the year. That is 21.7% of all Plant Sciences graduates.
How much do Plant Sciences graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Soil and Plant Scientists occupation, which Plant Sciences most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,850 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Plant Sciences field report median earnings of $38,397 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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